As people move into retirement they can sometimes fall into the trap of thinking “What goals can I have now?” or “I can’t do what I used to do and I too old for goals.”

Goals are important in life. They help define our purpose, provide motivation, and increase engagement. Setting goals is a great way to get the most out of your retirement years.

One great method for developing and setting new goals is to use the SMART method which stands for Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant and Time-Bound. Developed in the 1980’s to improve businesses management goals and objectives the SMART method has also been successfully utilized to help people set personal goals.

Make your goal:

SPECIFIC - Ask yourself what you want to do or accomplish. Define in a clear and concise way the why and how of your goal. Instead of saying “I want to hike more” say “I will walk one to two miles five days a week so that I can have the endurance to hike with my grandchildren on the weekends.

MEASURABLE - You will not be able to know that you have achieved your goal if there isn’t a measurable outcome. Instead of saying “I want to walk further” spell it out, “In three months I want to be able to walk three miles without being tired.”

ACHIEVABLE - We all know there are some things we could do in our 20s that we can’t do in our 50’s. Make sure the goal is realistic and achievable for you where you are right now. Setting an unachievable goal is a sure-fire way to make sure you give up.

RELEVANT - Select a goal that has meaning to you now. Don’t select a goal you had in your college years but has little meaning or relevance to you in retirement. Ask yourself why you selected your goal of hiking with your grandchildren. Is it because you want a meaningful activity with them and that is the motivation you need to stick with your plan? Tying your goal to the things that have value and meaning to you will move you one step closer to achieving them.

TIME-BOUND - Set a realistic timeframe to complete your goal. Make sure the timeframe reflects all the other criteria listed above. Being reasonable in your expectations by giving yourself a “deadline” helps keep you focused as you work towards your goal.

The last thing to remember about setting goals is…they can be modified. Life changes, we find out that we don’t enjoy something we really thought we would. That’s ok! You have earned the right to change your mind. A reset is always permitted. Define a new goal and more forward!